6 Tips for Enjoying the Festive Season With Thyroid Disease

This time of year is known for being fun, enjoyable, a great opportunity to catch up with friends and family and take a break from work. However, once I developed hypothyroidism, and during the time it took for me to get it better managed, I learned some key lessons in surviving the festive season with my thyroid condition so that I could still enjoy it without becoming unwell.

1. Pace Yourself

Learning to pace our energy is perhaps the biggest thing we can all benefit from.

With how busy the festive period is, I soon learned that it is important to plan my energy usage and any tasks I have, wisely. For example, Christmas present shopping, card writing, catching up with friends and family, putting up the Christmas tree and decorations, preparing for Christmas day itself and then New Year celebrations. You can quickly become tired just thinking about it all!

Since learning about the spoon theory, I’ve gotten better at understanding my energy levels and how they work. Whilst it’s true that my health is very good for the most part these days, as my thyroid condition is well managed, I still benefit from keeping an eye on how I use my energy because I don’t have limitless amounts like most other people.

Whereas most others can do however much they want (and can fit) in a day, I have to bear in mind that if I do too much, it may flare up my thyroid condition and have me paying for it afterwards. I’ve learned this from experience!

Therefore, I spread my Christmas shopping out over the year, picking gifts up for people as and when I see items in the shops and think, “X would like that,” so that it’s one less thing to do closer to the holidays.

When it comes to catching up with friends and family, often to exchange Christmas gifts, I often try to combine them wherever possible, meeting several in one day for example, so it limits how many days in general are taken up by these social events. Some thyroid patients may prefer to see these people over more days though, as it can also be draining doing a lot of socializing in one day. So go with whichever tends to work better for you but be mindful of it.

I prepare for Christmas day with the help of my husband and family. He does most of the cooking on the day, so I do most of the cleaning and preparing the house ahead of time. For example: getting the guest bedroom ready, ensuring plenty of towels are washed and dried and all housework done so that we can enjoy the holidays without having to worry about any of that boring adult stuff! I also aim to limit the amount of time I’m cleaning on Christmas Day so I can just enjoy the day for what it is, so prefer to have the house all organized. But this only happens by pacing myself ahead of the day.

Working out everything that needs doing ahead of time and planning when to do them across a few weeks really helps me to spread my energy wisely.

Also, if I need to nap during this busy time of year, I go ahead and just do it. A nap after Christmas dinner never hurt anyone and if my body requires some extra Z’s here and there, I make sure to let it recharge.

2. Make Lists, Lists and More Lists!

As well as starting my present buying early, I also keep a list. Writing down the names of who I’m buying for and, as I wrap what I buy or make for them, noting it down, so I don’t forget! Thyroid brain fog can get to us all sometimes, but also when you’re busy thinking about so many things that need doing over the festive period, so forgetting what you actually got for someone is easy to do.

Now, when people send me a text message on Christmas Day, thanking me for the gift I gave them, I can actually remember what it was!

It may also be helpful to write down what you receive and from who, as you unwrap gifts or open cards, so that you can send a more personalized thank you instead of forgetting or muddling up who gave you what, too.

Even when we have family and friends staying over the Christmas or New Year period, I’ll still excuse myself for a while to get away and have some quiet if I need it. Usually, saying something like “I’m just going to sit upstairs for a bit and read/relax/have a nap/take a bath” etc. works well and people are quite happy to entertain themselves, so they’re not bothered at all by it.

Another reason why buying Christmas gifts early is great, is because it also enables me to avoid the stress of shopping when the stores are busy and chaotic! While everyone else is running around the shops after work and panicking, I’m at home enjoying Christmas movies, knowing my gifts are all bought and wrapped well in advance.

4. Stick to Your Dietary Requirements

If you are one of the many thyroid patients who follows a diet such as gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, AIP, keto etc. (there are many that often benefit people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s) then sticking to this during the holidays is very important, too.

Slipping up or accidentally ingesting something that worsens or aggravates your health condition/s can really affect how well you enjoy the festivities.

I plan ahead and take my own gluten-free gravy, stuffing, sweets (such as mince pies which are a tradition here in the UK) and other usually gluten-filled food alternatives, when eating at other peoples’ houses. This way, I know I’m safe and don’t have to worry about what is lurking in my favorite meal of the year: Christmas Dinner.

I also always pack caffeine-free tea when I go away, as I avoid caffeine too.

Whatever dietary requirements you have, make a list of where they tend to pop up in the usual Christmas food and drink, and stock up on your own alternatives. Be prepared.

5. Receive the Correct Gifts

As someone with health conditions that can affect what I eat or even use in terms of beauty products, I also like to (gently) remind friends and family who usually give me a gift, about any of my dietary requirements or products that I can’t use due to my health.

I also remind them of the things that I can use and are therefore useful gifts, so they’re not wasting their money on something I can’t utilize.

6. Prepare for Winter

Some people with hypothyroidism benefit from a slight medication dosage increase in winter (though this should always be done under the supervision of your doctor), as when temperatures around us drop, our thyroid often has to work harder to help maintain a normal body temperature. Which can mean that when you feel colder, you have an increase in hypothyroidism symptoms, such as aches and pains, brain fog and fatigue. Every thyroid patient would benefit from a retesting of a full thyroid panel to reevaluate their thyroid levels at this time of year.

Although it may seem obvious, remembering to wrap up adequately and wearing thick jumpers, scarves, gloves, hats and of course a substantial coat, will also help you to keep warm, feel well and promote proper immune system function, too.

Eating and drinking lots of warm food and drinks such as tea, soups and warm lunches are also beneficial. Warm food can be very nutritious, such as homemade soups and broths. There are also thermogenic foods that are named as such as they create heat when they’re converted into energy. Common ones include chilies, pepper, mustard, coconut oil and even avocado.

You’ll also want to think about protecting your immune system over the holidays, since many of us with autoimmune hypothyroidism have a compromised immune system. Consider whether the flu jab is suitable to you. Supplementing Vitamin D, C and B-complex can help support your immune system. No one wants to get sick over the holidays.

Keep in mind that adrenal stress can greatly lower your immune system’s ability to fight things off, so referring to what I said about managing your stress levels would also be wise.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Ask Questions to People Who’ve Been There

Rachel Hill, a thyroid patient advocate and author, is a highly ranked writer who created the award-winning advocacy and website ‘The Invisible Hypothyroidism’. Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s and Anxiety Disorder, she covers all aspects of what it’s like to have these conditions, is passionate about helping those with hypothyroidism and giving them a voice, and is well-recognised as a useful contributor to the thyroid community. Rachel's work can also be found on her twitter, facebook, instagram, website and book: “Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate”.